Fire-department coupling.



v' APPLIOATIONTILBD MAR.295,1905.

' PATENBD'DEC. 5,1905.

, 3o y namely, either that a- 'separatefhose-line has 5" firemen thus deprived of their stream while in dangerous sniokyfplac'es, .as in aloft, haveV WILLIAMRKOONT'Z. on srninerinnnoiiio,

Nasoeese.

To @ZZl zii/omit 1'vfmyeoncern:

j Be it known thatI, WILLIAMF. KooNTz, a

j citizen of the `United States, residing at Springield, in the county of Clark and StateofQhio,

-have invented certain new andy useful Improveyments inFire-Departrn'ent Couplings,of .which the following 4is a specification, `reference be-Al ing hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

This` invention relates to a portable-coupling for use in city fire departments; and the purpose of theinvention is'to provide a means by lwhich aftera hose-wagon on varriving at y theiire has had its hose connected to the source of wateresupply-'say a water-pressure iireplugand is playing on the iire'a steam lire'- engine on arriving maybe connected with'the same source of water-supply 'and may play on the lire through the saine hose already soco'nnected without disconnecting the hose con tion is toaccornplish this new result. Ire-` nection So already made' with the water-sup plybefore the arrival ofA thelen'gine and' also vwithout interrupting ythe flow of the stream.

The broad-object or purpose of inyiuven- 'the existingsystem' one ofwtwo things is nec- 40- hose fdisconnectedfroin' thefplug and'connected to the dischargesjideof the engine'-` pump while the engine s uction-pipe'is con-v f nected tothe plug. In `either case thereis essary to'sta'rt fan engine toplaygon fa .lire when the engineiarrives atthetire-plug and.v

finds that the hose-wagon crew haspreceded it and connected the hose with theirefplug% to be run out, attachedxto thefplugy and eX-V tendedto'the ire' and the engine'. connected up to play through suchjhose wit'li' the'in'ciy. dental effect of `at first l-es'seningthe plug` pressure inthe f irst rline of hose-and thenV finally `stoppingfthat line-altogether bythe action of the engine in diverting the water-l from it.atl the tire-plug, or when, the' enginel arrives'the 'lire-plug has to be cut off, lthe 'loss of-time,'often at themost critical inoment, in getting `control ove'rthe lire, and in the latter caseiiremen at fthe nozzle of the irst hose are y suddenly deprived of their strean'ilwhen the 4plug is cut oli'` to connectjup the engine to their hose. There are caseswhere been subjected to great dangerand hardship,

f if not to actualsufocation. .'Bythe meansof my invention both of these existing difliculties are avoided, and when the engine arrives Specification of Letters Patent. Appiiai'ionigamarh'zg,1905. Sernin. 252,642.

APatented. Dec. 19o-5f.V

i it isl connected with ythe nre-plug or source 'of water-supply without stopping thestreain alvready playing and' without thel laying of a newline of hose. ..1 l

Toithis end my invention consists, essensuction-pipe and engine jdischargehosewith tia1ly,1ofa` coupling adapted for connectiong-4 i say with' the fire-plug` for connection withx the hose, anolforA 'connection with the engine g suitablevalve or cut-oliiy devices,` alll as vhere-` inafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in tliegiclairns.

`In the accompanying drawings, on which like reference characters indicate correspond-y ing parts, Figurel Ais a side elevation of my coupling; Fig.v2,alongitudinal sectional view through thesame; fFig. 3, a detail perspective'- View of aqvalve or cut-off; Fig. 4, a side elevation lookingat the opposite side from that shown in Fig. l;l Fig. 5, a general View or diagram, showing a water-pressure fire-plug, j

in amanner vreadyforuse; andy Fig. 6,V a deltail sectional View through the coupling.

` Thejletter A designates. theportable coup ling generally, the saine'consistingv ofjone or more sections, as may be desired. In the 'present instance, for convenienceot' manufac-- ture, two sections B and C are used. sectionsv are-interconnected by means ofwel screw-tlire'adD and `band D. Section B is fr ny coupling, valineoi" hose, andthe pump'of- Aa steam fire-engine connected tcniy coupling ThesewA adapted forconnection witli'thesource of watersuppl.y'-say a fire-plug containing. water under pressure-andfor that purposeis pro:-

vided with' any approvedforrn of` threaded g ring E. The section B isvfurther. providedy ywithva cut-off F, adapted to be operated'by the application ofa'suitable vtool, toits pro.

jecting stemGr, as particularly seen infFi'gs. "1 and 3.v i As shown in Fig. 2, thecut-off 'stands in position to allow thewater to pass byitspressure from the ii re-pl ug through the coupling and `thence into andalong the line of hose H, assee'n in Fig. 5, andwhicli hose is connected' to the section C at Ii'by the usual means. vThe section B is further provided 4with a branch .1.. adapted, through atlireaded part`K, to be-connected with the engine suction-pipe L, as 'also' suggested Vbyljig. 5. The cut-off F stands across `the branch Jin what` IOO might be calledtlie"nor'inalv positionff--that is to'say, when'y the water is playing directly 'through-the coupling; but this cut-oli' is adapted to be turned so that itwill stand across" 'the passage ofthe coupling atthe point M,"

as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in whichI position of the cut-off the water will pass into the branch J' and thence to the suction-pipe of the engine. To limit the movements of the cut-off, so 'that it will stand in either of the two positions described when turned to either limit. I provide a stud N on the outer wall of the coupling and provideacap O, with lugs P and Q.` When the lug P is in contact with the stud N, the water will'pass straight through the coupling; but when the lug Q is in contact with the stud N the water will pass out through the branch J. The cut-off F is tapered and is drawn and held in place in its seat by means of the cap O bearing upon the ring O', which in turn rests upon the coupling-casing, and by the threaded stud Q and nut R. The end of the cut-off has a square boss F, which fits within a correspondingly-v shaped socket O of the cap O, so that when the cut-ofi1 is turned the cap will turn with it and bring its lugs P and Q; respectively, into contact with the stud N. This is one mode of constructing the cut-off; but it may be departed from without departing from the invention itself.

The section C has a branch R, which connects with the discharge-hose of the engine through any approved connection, such as the threaded ring T. In this section there is located a valve U, pivoted at V, and when in the'normal or closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, it rests on a seat W. A cushion or gasket X is held to the valve proper by means of a plate Yand a screw Z. This valve serves the oce of preventing the water from fiowing into the branch R before the engine begins to act; but when the water begins to enter through the branch from the dischargehose S then the valve U opens until it nally swings against the stop a.

Having described the construction of my coupling in respect to the form selected for illustration, I will now set forth the mode of operation and manner of using the device. The coupling will generally be carried by the hose-wagon of a fire department and will be normally attached on the end of the hose. On arrival at the fire the crew willattach this coupling to, say, a water-pressure tire-plug, as seen in Fig. 5. They will then run out their hose and form a line, as suggested at H in Fig. 5. The normal position of the cut-ofi' F being that shown in Fig. 2 and also the normal position of the valve U being that shown in such figure, there is nothing for the crew to do but to turn the water on in the fire-plug, when it will instantly pass through the coupling and into the line of hose. The reason for the coupling being carried most usually by the hose-Wagon is that the hose-wagon usually reaches the lire ahead of the engine, because it is lighter and the horses can run faster with it. When the engine arrives, the crew immediately connects the suction-pipe L with the branch J of my coupling and at the same time connects the discharge-hose S with the branch R ofthe coupling. The engine is then put into action, and as it starts up the cuto F is turned quickly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 or is turned more or less into such position, usually wholly to such position. The effect is to divert the Water through the branch J, or to partly so divertit, according to the extreme to which the cut-off is turned and to thus supply the engine with water. The action is so quick that in either case there is no interruption in the iiow of the stream through the hose, since the momentum of the water at the time the cut-off is manipulated is such as to keep up the stream for the mere instant occupied in diverting the water through the engine. It will be seen also that during the coupling-of the engine suction-pipe and discharge-hose to my coupling there is no interruption in the play of the water. It will further be seen that the same` hose which the hose-wagon crew connected with the fire-plug and were using when the engine arrived is utilized after the engine goes into action. Incidentally this not only has the advantages above referred to, but avoids the use of additional hose and saves the cost of purchasing and carrying the same, as well as the time in runningI it out during the fire. Thus the several advantages and features of utility of my coupling will be fully understood in addition to its construction and simplicity.

I have shown the sections B and C as directly connected together; but .it is obvious that without departing from my invention they might in practice be otherwise related or that the distance between the two sections might be greater-than here shown. It will further be understood that the particular type of cut-off and valve may be changed or varied without departing from my invention and that whether the coupling is made in two sections or more or only one is not material. It will also be understood that in use section B of my coupling might be left on the lireplug, while section C could be carried on the hose or with the hose-wagon or possibly in some cases with the engine and that on arriving at the plug the connection would be made between the two sections instead of as here illustrated and described, where the connection is made between section B and the plug. This is merely referred to as a possible though not so advantageous a system of use of my device. I would further state that while it is preferred in practice to apply the coupling to the source of water-'supply directly, still there may be more or less distance between the coupling and suph supply as if a section of hose extended from the immediate source of supply `to the coupling instead of screwing the coupling directly to the fire-plug.

IOC

IIO

what I claim as new, and

' Lettersv Patent, is:-

y."*f-Iaving thusffully described my invention,v desire to-secure Yby 1. c A coupling of the character described; comprisinga hollow body Vcomposed of o'neor more sections and adapted for connection with a water-supplyand a linek ofhose, and'having branches adapted' for connection with an engine suction-pipe and. a discharge-nosa; and

suitable cut-0H devices to divert the water' from the main' bodyto one of the branches and back from said branch to vsaiddzpody again, so that the, body will `be closed when thel b'ianchfis open,` and the branch will be closed 'when' the, body is open. Y i

2. A coupling'of the character described comprising a hollow body composed of one or i more sections and adapted for connection with i -a waterfsupply, and aline ofhose, and having 2O branches for` connection with the engine suction-pipe and "discharge-hose; and having a cut-'oi` to diverty the .water from the main body y toone of the branches, anda valve to guide the 'water through the ycoupling past the othery `branch and to permitv `the' water to enter? the coupling through'said branch.`

` y3. A coupling of lthe fcharacter'described compriSicnga-hollow bodyjcomposedof one or more sections, `onejend of `the `body being adapted for connectiony withl a water-supply' and the other end `with a line of hose, a dis` i charge-branch near the 'first-named endfor connection with `anfengine suction-pipe, and

an inlet-branch near the other endfor .connec- .tionwith an enginedischarge-hose, a cutoif near therst branch and an inwardly-openmg valve near thesecond branch. l V

coupling of the cha'racterdescribed comprising a hollow' body composed l'of one or moresections and adaptedatlone end for connection with afwaater-supply and at the other end for connectionwith aline of hose, and p hayingja discharge-branch near one end-and an inlet-branch near the other; a hand-operatedy cut-ofi"l near 'the'iirst' branch. and `aninbranchfstop devicesto limit the movement f the cut-off i'nonelposition Orthe other and a s top device forl the valve.

5.' ,Acoupling of the character described' comprising a hollowbody composed ofk a plu-` 4s r wardlyopening pivoted valve near the'second rality` of interconnected sections, one section adapted for connection witha water-supply and the enginesuction-pipe, and having a cutoil", and lthe other ysection,adapted'for connection with la line of hose and an charge-pipeand having a valve.

engine d is-y 6. AVA coupling :of thecharacter described c' comprising a hollow body composed of two sections adapted forinterconnection, one section also adaptedfor connectionwith a water-` a supplyand vha'ving'f va branch `for connection withxfan enginesuction-pipe, and a cut-01T in ysaid section, andthe. other section adapted for c connection witha liney of'hose aid havingia branch for; connection, with an engine discharge-pipe anda Valv between Said branch vand its section.y i

' -i Intestimony whereof I-aiiix my. signature in Y 

